Knowing the dangers of hot cars amid extreme temperatures

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

It is important to know the dangers of being in a hot car amid a heat wave rolling through Mid-Missouri.

The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team has issued a Weather Alert Day Tuesday and Wednesday for extreme heat in Mid-Missouri. However, it does not take triple-digit heat indices for your vehicle to feel like an oven.

Never leave a child, a disabled adult or pets in a hot car. Every year, an average of 38 children and an untold number of pets die from heatstroke nationwide, according to the National Weather Service.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, in 2025, there were 35 heat-related deaths in the state, five of which were in hot cars.

When the heat in the car is completely trapped, the temperature spike happens fast. On a nearly 90-degree day, the interior of a parked car can easily surge past 100 degrees in less than 10 minutes. Within an hour, dashboard temperatures can clock in at a staggering 140 degrees or higher.

Cracking the windows does not help slow the heat or cool the car down. A child's body overheats three to five times faster than an adult's, and children have died from heat stroke in cars with outside temperatures as low as 60 degrees.

There are recommendations from officials to help people remember their child is in the car:

• Place a visual clue in the front passenger seat of the car, such as a diaper bag or a toy
• Make a habit of opening the back door every time you get out. According to Kids and Car Safety, to enforce this habit, place an everyday item in the back, such as a backpack, purse, phone, etc.
• Ask your childcare provider to call you immediately if your child hasn't arrived where they need to be on schedule

If you see a child or pet alone in a car, call 911 immediately.